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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

SOLO

My shoulder throbs like a bitch, but I hold in a grimace when I move. These fuckers around me would be more than happy to take the piss out of me showing I am in pain.

Ruthie and Ricky are in bed, while Elsie sits with the ol’ ladies across the room, chatting, laughing, and drinking wine or some fruity drinks. I fucking love seeing her get along with the other important women in my life, my step-mum and two sisters by marriage. They mean the world to me. I was happy for my brothers when they found their women.

“Got news from the prospect who offered his body up to émile,” Pres states as he joins us.

“Yeah? What’s he found out? That émile has a pussy and not a cock?” Woody jokes.

We all laugh. Pres chuckles, before he takes a puff of his cigar. Smoke bellows out from between his lips, and his gaze moves over to his woman, who is watching him with eager eyes.

Nadine loves it when my father smokes his cigar, especially when they fuck, and yes, he was proud to tell us that shit. We are an open family; nothing is secret or hidden here.

“Really? Fucking hell, Pres, keep it for the bedroom, yeah,” Kink mock whines, and we laugh.

“What did the prospect find out?” I ask.

“The fucker Dyer. He has fucked off to Ireland for a family funeral, but word has it that he wants our territory. Alan has been making waves saying Elsie killed his other and he wants revenge.”

“What the fuck?” I grind out between clenched teeth.

My hands ball into tight fists at my sides as my anger builds.

“He claims she killed him, and kept the savings they had. Saying the money is his, and will make her hand it over. Threats have been thrown around, brother.” Pres looks fucking pissed, as does every man sitting with us.

“He will have to claim a war if he wants our territory. This fuckhead brother needs to go.” Boost bursts out.

“If he wants a war, he will fucking get one,” I bark out.

“He is getting nothing from us, Son. We protect the club and we protect what is ours. Do not worry on that shit,” Tag states firmly, and I nod to him.

“He’s a cocky twat for thinking he can just walk in and claim what has belonged to the Royal Bastards for fucking years,” Woody grunts.

“He thinks he has the power but he is in for a very rude awakening,” Dutch claims.

“How are plans for the visit to America?” Tag changes the subject.

“Good. We fly out on the Monday and stay two weeks. I will visit two clubs, but we will stay longer in Jacksonville, sort the deal out there, and then come home,” my brother explains.

“Good, good.”

“Make sure you make contact with the guys from Dallas. Blade is the guy I have been speaking to,” Kink adds.

“Will do.”

“Have you thought of what we spoke about yesterday, Pres?” Fritz asks, piquing everyone’s interest going by the looks on their faces, mine included.

“I have. We will bring it to the table and go from there. If the vote is for, then we look over the business plan.” Pres’ reply makes my curiosity even greater.

“Stop talking in fucking code, ya bastards. Fill us in, will ya?” Box gripes.

“You have no say here, brother,” Fritz snaps at him. “You went fucking nomad, remember?”

“Yeah, and last I checked, I still fucking wore a Royal Bastard patch.”

“Listen here, you little fuck, you may wear the club’s patch but you have no say in what we do for the club unless you remove that nomad patch and stay here. But remember, if you do, then you will have to keep your hands to yourself.” By the time Fritz is finished, he’s smirking.

The air around us goes thick with tension. I see Fritz glance at me before he looks back to Box, and Box does the same.

“What does he mean by that?” Kink asks, leaning forward.

“You touched my woman?” I snarl.

Box’s eyes go wide and he holds his hands up in a surrender gesture.

“Hey, brother, I didn’t know she was taken. I saw no cut or mark on her,” he explains, but my blood is boiling at this point.

“Calm down, Solo. Elsie is across the room and she does not need to see you lose your shit and kill a brother,” Dutch urges.

My body vibrates with the need to strangle this fucker who dared touch what is mine.

Pointing at him, I snarl. “You touch her again and I will end you. Feel lucky that my girl saved your life tonight.”

Box nods but says nothing else.

“Shitting hell, when did women come between brothers?” Woody bitches.

“No women are coming between anyone, but when someone touches what does not belong to them, then they have to deal with the consequences,” Pres adds, looking sternly at Box.

“I hear you.” Box looks to me. “I apologise, brother, and I will apologise to your woman.”

“You do that, and while we are at it, be warned that my kids are running around here as well.”

“Fuck me, I missed a lot.”

I grin at Box. “That’s what you get when you can’t stay in the same place for long, brother.”

“It’s been getting a bit redundant, but I’m not sure I can sit still for long yet.” He looks around the room and sighs. “Maybe one day.”

I nod to him.

Looking across the room, I watch as my girl throws her head back, laughing at something Nadine said. Seeing these women together, taking Elsie under their wings, is something else.

I want this to work between us. I want to keep her and the kids. And one day, soon hopefully, I want to plant my own baby in her belly.

Thinking of her round with my baby makes my balls ache.

As if she can sense me watching her, Elsie turns her head in my direction, a smile gracing her beautiful face. I wink, making her cheeks turn pink. We stare at each other for seconds, maybe more, but I feel the pull towards her, my soul latching on to hers, and fuck me, I hope that it never lets go.

One of the women gets her attention and our connection breaks.

The members of the Royal Bastards MC are a mixed bag of fuckers from all over the world. The charters are mixed up with all sorts of shit, from legal to illegal stuff. Hell, we even have some brothers who have supernatural powers, which is cool as fuck.

We have allies around the world, including some here in the UK. We are on good terms with the Unforgiven Riders MC, who have helped us from time to time, and we will help them if they need anything.

They are lucky fuckers to have caught the women they have. Dyson is one lucky cunt to have Jamie as an ol’ lady because that woman is fire. She has nothing on my woman, but I am a man who can appreciate a hot woman.

“I’m trying to get Adele pregnant but the shit keeps finding her birth control,” Kink gripes, bringing me back into the conversation.

We guys laugh at the look on his face.

“Maybe try talking to your woman instead of tricking her, knobhead.” Dutch punches our brother in the arm.

Kink frowns. “I’m not tricking her. I’ve told her that I want kids with her, and now, but she just laughs at me.”

“Hiding her pills is tricking her, stupid,” I laugh. “Kink, sit down and speak to her; ask her if she wants kids now or down the line. She has a career that she worked damned hard for,” I tell him.

“Son, I want grandkids as much as the next old bloke, but you can’t force that shit on her. Talk to her and see what she wants. Stop being a selfish prick,” Pres says with a grin on his face.

We all know he wants grandkids. He was over the moon when Dutch told him Una was pregnant. I know he will claim Ruthie and Ricky as his as soon as I publicly claim Elsie.

It will happen sooner than he thinks.